WASHINGTON, DC—Representative Eliot L. Engel, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today delivered the following floor remarks in support of the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2015 (H.R. 3766):

“Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this measure and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

“First of all, thank you Madam Speaker. First of all I want to thank Congressman Poe and Congressman Connolly for all their hard work on this bill. Enhancing transparency and accountability in our foreign assistance spending is something with which we can all agree.

“And it’s important that we get our foreign assistance right. Our foreign aid represents just a tiny sliver of the federal government’s annual budget. Less than one percent. But if it’s put to the right use, it’s an investment that pays huge dividends.

“Why is that? Because when we support the construction of a water-treatment facility in an overcrowded city or train teachers in a rural village, we’re doing more than just directly helping those affected. We’re helping to bring stability and prosperity to entire communities and populations. And when we have stronger partners around the world, it helps enhance our own security and advance our own interests.

“So as I like to say, foreign assistance is the right thing to do for those who are in desperate need. And it’s also the smart thing to do in terms of American foreign policy and national security. But it’s important that we’re spending our limited foreign assistance dollars efficiently and effectively.

“The Obama Administration has taken important steps to enhance the monitoring and evaluation of our foreign assistance programs. When she was Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton was at the forefront of those efforts.

“This legislation—the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act—would build on the great progress already made by the Administration. It would write into law many of the steps they have already taken, making these efforts permanent for future administrations.

“This will help ensure that our investments are as effective as possible by requiring measurable goals, and plans for monitoring and evaluation. Madam Speaker, this important legislation will help all of us better to understand how our foreign assistance programs help promote stability, prosperity and democracy around the world. And how these investments advance our own security interests.

“I’m for accountability. So I strongly support this bill. I urge my colleagues to do the same. And I reserve the balance of my time.”